Temperature regulation of converters



*"May 4, 1937. E. J. HOUDRY ETYAL 2,078,947

TEMPERATURE REGULATION OF CONVERTERS vivan/EV.

May 4, 1937- E. J. HouDRY ETAL Y l TEMPERATURE REGULATION OE CoNvERTERsv Filed June 1l,

1934 2 `Sheets-Sheet 2 El @ne cf fg/] Patented May .t 4; '1937 l i i "12.078.947 v i -frEMPERA'rURs REGULATION o CoNvERTens y, y Eugene J. Houdry, Philadelphia, Pa., and Raymond C. Lassiat, WoodburyQN. J., asslgnorsto .AHoudry Process Corporation, Dover, Del., s corporation of Delaware Appnclitin Liane" "1. 193.4',` serial No. 128,54;

1 v14 claims. (ci. 234288) This invention` relates general to.` heatuexchange and more particularly to apparatusadapted for use in the control `or regulation of the 1-eaci tion temperatures of contact masses.` i i 5 One "object ofithelnvention. isrto impart heat to `orwrexriove heatfrom a contact mass at `a `ijiipidbut controlled rate. Another object is to effect "the, heat exchange in a substantiallyuni- `form manner throughoutthe `depth of the" mass. l) Another object isto make the heat `exchange i largely by radiation. Other objects will be apparent from the' detailed descriptionfvvhichl follows. `p 1.. i The invention involves passingA a heatfexchange 15 fluid througha contactfmass so asto heat or cool i the same in asubstantiallyv uniform manner.` .i The fluid, may bei either gaseous or liquid. Transfer of heat by conduction is minimized, preference vection may playa part `in the `heat transfer. While the conduits for` the heat, exchange fluid extend within thecontact mass, `they are preier-` ably kept out of contact with the latterby the interposltion of spacing means of any suitable type such' for example as anouter member .or conduit which may or may `notbe perforated or apertured. If the outer member is apertured, some of the heat exchange between the mass and theV fluid will be Vby convection. Such an apert'ured outer member" enables theheat lexchange unit to serve also as means for distributing reactantfluids withinthe mass `or for removing the products `of the reaction from withnjthe mass.

""In order to illustrate the invention'and the 3,3 manner ofjits "operation, concrete ernbodirnentsk modification ofthe heating or coolingarrange` ment for the contact rnas`s;"

i Figs. 3 and 4`are fragmentary vertical sectional views on an enlarged scale showing additional modications;` and.. 1 ii y y y. l Figs'. 5` and 6 are transverse sectional views on the lines 5-5 and 6--6 of Figs. 3 and 4, respec# tively.'

" The converter disclcsedin Fig. 1 comprisesl an being given to radiation. In certain cases con-V outer, shell 1 divided onits interiorvby upperand .lower perforated partitions ,l and 9,.respective1y, to provide a large` central reaction. chamber I andupper and lower chambers Il and "l2, respectively, the latter having connections Il and Il,

.trespeetiyely.` tofthe `exterior of thefconverter.

Reaction chamber I0 iisllecl Awith a contact mass M which may be mere spreading material or which mayhave catalytic or dsorptive properties capable 'of effecting the desired conversion of the selected starting material. f If the converter is used for the transformation ormodiflcation of hydrocarbons, such, for example,` as the converc sionof high boiling forms of petroleum orthe like into low boilinghydrocarbons, the contact mass maycomprise pieces or fragments of a: ceramic materialwhich has adsorptive properties,` or. it

`may be prepared in moldedpieces of` substantially uniform size containing or impregnatedlf desii-ed', with other active substances, such asflnely divided metals or metallic oxides. By preference, the converter is arranged for regeneration of the lcontactmass'in situ by oxidation so that the reactions taking place in chamber`V Ill willbe alternatelylendothennic and exotherrnic. v i

To eieet'control of the temperature of the contact mass, especially during the exotherrnic "operation, so that the mass will not'be` impaired `or destroyed through overheating, the invention involves `extracting a large amount of theY liberated heat by radiation toa circulated cooling medum, Water,for example. For this purpose, im-

perforate conduits il are embedded in theconi tactmass andextend throughlcertainof the periorations in partitions 8 and 9 Vtoconnect with headers `Hi and Ilr disposed above and below the i i f reaction vchamhergas in upper and lower chambers Il and`l2, respectively.. To keep M out of direct contact with pipes I5, so'that the transfer of heat will be predominately by` radiation, suitable members i8 are `mounted on pipes l5 so'as to en- `close that portion of the same which is within reaction chamberl`lll. Members` I8 are preferably tubular, of greater rdiameter than the pipes, and imperforate, 4although theymaybe perforate as will later appear. Upper header I6 has a connection VI9 provided with'a pressure reducing valve 20 which opensinto a flashpot 2|. Vapor may be released from fiashpot 2| by a valvecontrolled connection 22 at its top, while condensate from the r bottomvf the'fiasnpotis' conducted by nnelza along" with additional makeup material from valved supply line 24 to pump 25 which sends the coolingmedium by connection 26 to lower header Il. `The cooling medium in that part of the `circuit which lies between pump 25 and fiashpot 2| is maintained under sufficient pressure to keep it in liquid state or substantially. in liquid state while picking up heat in pipes i! and until it reaches release valve 20.

If the circulated medium is to be used for heating as well as cooling, it may be preferable to use a gaseous medium. Details of that portion of a circuit outside of the converter for a medium which is either liquid or ygaseous are disclosed in Fig. la, where connection Isa from upper header I6 of converter 1 leads to a pump 25a connected by line 20a to an apparatus 2la, capable of functioning either as a heater or cooler, from which another connection 23a leads to a second pump 25h connected( by a line 28a. to the lower headerl I1 of the converter. The heating or cooling medium may be introduced into the circuit by a valved connection 24a. Heater or cooler 2|a may be bypassed in whole or in part by a valved connection 22a between lines 20a and 23a. Either or both pumps 26a. and 2lb may be operated and the fluid may be circulated in either direction.

While the reactant fluids fed to converter 1 may be passed directly through reaction chamber I0 from 'end to end, from either of chambers Ill or i2, and the products of the reaction removed frorn the other` of such chambers, Vmore satisfactory 4and uniform results are obtained by a uniform parallel flow arrangement within reaction chamber I0, after the manner disclosed in the copending application of Eugene J. Houdry, Serial No. 611,362, nled May 14, 1932, now Patent 2,042,468 issued June 2, 1936. To this end, the perforations for the reactant fluids in partitions 8 and 9 are made of sufficient size to mount therein, by a threaded arrangementor otherwise, series of perforated conduits 21 and 28, respectively, these conduits extending into reaction chamber I0 and being embedded in contact mass M in uniformly spaced, parallel and symmetrical arrangement. One series, such as 21, may be used for the distribution of reactant fluids from upper chamber Il within and throughout the" interior of contact mass M, while the other series, 28, uniformly` withdraws the products of the reaction from within contact mass M and discharges the same into lower chamber I2. I

Instead of heating or cooling the contactmass by separate elementsfdisposed in the reactionchamber, such as units I5, I8 of Fig. 1,v it is possible to simplify the structure of the converter by combining or incorporating the heating or cooling units with or into certain of the perforated distributing or outlet conduits, as illustrated in various Ways-.in Figs. 2 to 6, inclusive. In such combination forms, the perforated dis tributing or collecting element is substituted for the imperforate enclosing member I6 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1. g

Fig. 2 discloses a converter similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and like parts are indicated by the same reference `characters with the addition of theletter a. In this form of the invention, the pipes lia which extend between headers 'lia and Haare shown as passing centrally within and through the perforated conduits 28a, with the result that, heat transfer between the heating or cooling pipes l5a and contact mass Ma is both by radiation and convection instead of predominatelyy only by radiation as in the form shown in Fig. 1. When pipes lia are used to impart lneat te Contact mass Ma, as during an endothermic reaction, the movement of the reactant fluids may be in either direction, but if they enter lower chamber I2a of converter 1a they will pass into perforated conduits 28a, thence into contact mass Ma, thence through perforations in the nearest conduits 21a, and thence into upper chamber Ila. When pipes lia are used for cooling, as in an exotherrnic reaction, it is preferable that the reactant fluids be fed into upper chamber lla, thence distributed by conduits |1a into mass Ma, and the products leave by perforated conduits 28a. Mass Ma then gives up its heat directly to conduits 28a, and thence by radiation to pipes 15a and indirectly by convection as the products of the reaction pass over pipes lia in their movement into lower chamber 12a.'

Instead of passing the heating or cooling medium through the contact mass from end, to end, with headers for the medium above and below the reaction chamber, Figs. 3 and 4 show modified forms in which both headers are either above or below the reaction chamber, and the heating\ or cooling medium` makes a reverse movement within the reaction chamber. In Fig. 3, the heating or cooling meansextending within perforated conduit 28h comprise double or nested pipes. The inner pipe 28 of this unit-connects with a supply header (not shown), and extends to the lower end of the unit, where it discharges thefiuid into the bottom of the outer enclosing pipe 30. Thereupon the fluid reverses its movement,` passing back around the exterior of pipe 29, and leaving at the top of the unit by pipe 3| whichvconnects with the outlet header (not shown). In Fig. 4, the heating or cooling unit comprises a singlepipe k32 bent in a loop to Apass within perforated conduit 26cfrom either end, in this instance from'the lower end. Pipe 32 has a yreverse bend 32a disposed adjacent-the end of perforated conduit 28o, remote from the encl.l entered by pipe 32, the latter accordingly having portions extending in opposite directions and in parallelism. One end of reversely bent pipe 32 connects with the inlet header, while the other end connects with the outlet header (such headers not shown).

To effect greater movement of heat between the enclosing member and the contact. mass, the former may be provided with fins extending radially into the contact mass. Figs. 3 and 5 disclose a series of axially directed fins 33 extending radially'into the contact mass from outer.

the transfer of heat by radiation or by radiation and convection. In Figs. 3 and 5, the outer pipe 3|) is shown with a series of fins 31, while in Figs. 4 and 6 the reverse portions of pipe 32` within outer conduit 28e are provided with aligned fins 38. It is to be understood that fins or thev equivalent may be similarly applied to the heatingor cooling units shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To produce the maximum radiating effect between the inner faces of the outer enclosing members and the outer faces of the pipes for the heating or cooling fluids, the invention equalization in the fluid stream is eiected, and` i appended claims.

contemplates making all such opposed surfaces or faces black.

With a once-through use of the heating or cooling medium, in accordance with the forms.

t cept that when change ofstate of the circulatedy iluid isinvolved,` the exchange of heat per unit `of circulated fluid can be greatly accelerated.

With the reverse or double movement of heat,- ing .or ,cooling fluid, `as indicated in the modiiications shown in Figs. 3 ,and 4, temperature there can be a muchgreater pickup of heat per unit of, weight of circulatedy fluid. `In practical applications of the invention, it is necessary to adjust therate of flow lto-suit the requirements of the particular apparatus used and the character of the `reaction involved. j, ,l l

i For a liquid cooling medium, water is the preferred material, but othermaterials can beused.

` For example, undertcertain conditions,` it may be desirable toraise the boiling point ofthe cooling medium by other means than to increase the` operating pressure, in which casca salt solution or thelike, may be used in place of water. For,`

the gaseous heating or cooling medium, any desired gaseous iiuid may beused.; Itis preferable, however, to avoid one which `would make an explosive mixture with `the materials undergoing.'` reaction in case of` a break in the connections. Nitrogen will usuallyilt the requirements, but in` many .instances afcheaper medium, such as air, canbeused.` x

`While the invention has Ebeen `herein disclosed in certain preferred forms, it is to `be understood that the invention is not confined to the specific details thereof, but covers .allvariationa adaptations, and modifications within the scope of the We` claim as our invention: 1. In the control of chemical reactions effected by the aid of solid contact material, where- 'tween the same andthe surrounding bed of cont/act material, keeping said space out of fluid i conducting relation with said contact material so as to effect heat exchange across said space primarily by radiation, and passing the uid to t be treated into contact with said bed and withdrawing the products of the resulting reaction.

2. In the control of chemical reactions eifected by the aid of solid contact material, wherein temperature control within some particular range is desirable, the process which comprises disposing the contact material in a deep bed, passing a temperature controlled uid medium in a confined stream directly through said bed to eifect heat'exchange therewith, providing a solid-free space surrounding said confined stream, introducing a iuid to be treated into contact with said bed. and withdrawing treated iiuid therefrom through said space surrounding said confined stream and located between it and the surrounding `bed of contact material.

y `:3 3. 'I'he combination with aideepV bed of solid contact material for eiecting chemical reactions,

either exothermic or endothermic, of a heat exchange unit `embedded in said material, -said unit comprising nested but spaced imperforatel conduits, the inner conduit for conducting a fluid medium 'for cooling orhea'ting said material, the

outer conduit being indirect contact with said material but out of iiuid conducting relation with and in spaced relation to said inner conduitfthus forming a liquidand solid-free..space about the latterxwhereby heat exchange is effected with saidinnerconduit largely bylradiation.

4.` The combinationwith a contact mass for effecting chemical reactions of a perforated conduit embedded in said mass for venting fluid from said massand an imperforateconduitfor a heat exchange medium extending within and the full length `of said perforated conduit, said conduits being mounted so as to minimize metallic engagement with, one another and to: provide a free annular space `therebetween for the ventin andpassageof `uids from said mass. f t f 5. The combination with a contact massfor eifecting chemical reactions of a perforated conduit embedded in said mass for admitting fluid to or venting fluidfrom said mass, heat exchange means extending through said mass in spaced relation to said conduitand in substantial parallelism therewith, and asubstantially imperforatel member enclosing said last named means to keep the same outof contact with said mass and to provide an intervening liquidand solid-free space thereby to limit heat exchange between said means and said mass primarily to radiation.

6,.,In apparatus for` effecting `chemical reactions, a converter having a reaction chamber,` a

' contact mass in said chamber, Series of perfomediate said fseries'of conduits for restricting heat exchange substantially to radiation alone between a heating or cooling medium and the interior` ofi said mass, said means comprising conduits for said medium and members enclosing said last named conduits and providing liquidand solid-free spaces between said last named conduits and said mass.

7. In apparatus for effecting chemical reactions, a converter providing a reaction chamber. inlet and outlet means for the reactants and reaction products respectively, a contact mass in said/chamber, a series of perforated conduits embedded in said mass for distributing fluids within said mass, said perforatedv conduits forming part of said inletmeans, additional conduits in parallelism with said perforatedconduits for directing a heating or cooling medium through a part of said converter, and means enclosing said additional conduits and spaced therefrom to prey. vent contact of said mass therewith, the latter said means being out of communication with the reactant inlet means thus serving to keep incoming reactants out of the space enclosed by said enclosing means.

.8. In apparatus for effecting chemical reactions, a converter having a reaction chamber, a deep bed of contact material in said chamber, means comprising perforated conduits embedded in said material for admitting reactants to said chamber and for withdrawing the products of the reaction therefrom, means for circulating a heating or acooling medium through at least a part of said chamber including conduits therefor extending into said chamber in spaced parallelism with said perforated conduits and surrounded by said contact material, and means enclosing and spaced from said heat exchange conduits to keep said material out of direct contact with the same and to provide intervening gas spaces.

9. In apparatus for effecting chemical reactions, a converter having a reaction chamber, a contact mass in said chamber, means for admitting reactants to said chamber and for withdrawing-the products of the reaction therefrom. at least a part of said means comprising perforated conduits embedded in said mass for venting fluid products therefrom, and means within said converter forming part of a circuit for an independent cooling medium, said last named means including conduits teiescoped within said perforated conduits and spaced therefrom out oi' heat conducting relation therewith, thereby to provide spaces for the vented products to pass thereover but otherwise restricting heat exchange with said mass to radiation.

l0. A converter for effecting exothermic and endothermic reactions comprising a casing providing a reaction chamber, a contact mass therein, means for sending reactants into said chamber, an apertured outlet conduit embedded in said mass, means associated with said conduit for passing a cooling or heating medium therethrough out of direct contact with said mass and with the products of the reaction, and means for conducting heat between said conduit and said mass.

1l. A converter for effecting exothermic and endothermic reactions comprising a casing providing a reaction chamber, a contact mass therein, means for sending reactants into said'chamber, a series of apertured outlet' conduits embedded in said mass, means associated with the individual members of said outlet series for passing a cooling or heating medium therethrough out of direct contact with said mass and with the products oi the reaction, and means for conducting heat between said series of said outlet conduits and said mass.

12. A converter for eilecting exothermic and endothermic reactions comprising a casing providing a reaction chamber, a contact mass therein, a series of apertured distributing conduits and a serlesof apertured outlet conduits embedded in said mass, means associated with individual members of said outlet series for passing a cooling or heating medium therethrough out of direct contact with said mass and with the products of the reaction, and means for conducting heat between said last named means and said mass.

13. The combination with a contact mass for effecting chemical reactions of a perforated conduit embedded in said mass for admitting fluid to or venting fluid from said mass, and an imperforate conduit for a heating or cooling medium extending within and spaced from said perforated conduit and in substantially non-contacting relation therewith, said imperforate conduit having projecting members thereon to increase the radiating surface thereof, said members extending into the space between the said conduits to promote heat exchange by radiation and convection between said mass and said medium.

14. The combination with a contact mass for effecting chemical reactions, a conduit extending through said mass for circulating a heating or cooling iluid, a member enclosing said conduit and in spaced relation thereto for engaging the contact `mass and for keeping the latter out of contact with said conduit. iins radiating from said member into said mass to increase the area of contact therewith, and tins extending from said conduit into the space between the latter and said member to increase the radiating surface thereof.

EUGENE J. HOUDRY. RAYMOND C. LASSIAT. 

